HARRISBURG – Republican Attorney General candidate John Rafferty today echoed the call on his opponent Democratic Commissioner Josh Shapiro to announce whether or not he supports Philadelphia’s sanctuary city policy.

“The sanctuary city policy adopted by Mayor Jim Kenney and the city of Philadelphia is dangerous and puts the lives of innocent folks living, working and visiting the city everyday,” Rafferty said. “The role of attorney general is to enforce the laws and keep Pennsylvanians safe.

“I do not support sanctuary cities. I am calling out Commissioner Shapiro for the third time… Where does he stand on the issue?”

HARRISBURG – Republican Attorney General candidate John Rafferty again called on his opponent Democratic Commissioner Josh Shapiro to announce whether or not he supports Philadelphia’s sanctuary city policy.

“The sanctuary city policy adopted by Mayor Jim Kenney and the city of Philadelphia is dangerous and puts the lives of innocent people living, working and visiting the city everyday at risk,” Rafferty said. “The role of attorney general is to enforce the laws and keep Pennsylvanians safe. If someone is in the country illegally, they are breaking the law. This policy is contrary to the responsibility of an attorney general to keep people safe.

“I do not support sanctuary cities. Where does my opponent stand? So far Commissioner Shapiro’s silence on this issue has been deafening.”

The City of Philadelphia is a sanctuary city that will not prosecute people solely for being undocumented immigrants in the country where they are currently residing. The Federal government requests that local authorities hold on to people who have entered the country illegally.

HARRISBURG – Republican Attorney General candidate John Rafferty released the following statement regarding news that an ethane cracker plant will be locating in Pennsylvania:

“If Commissioner Josh Shapiro is our next attorney general, the ethane cracker plant would not be locating in Pennsylvania out of fear of his bias against the energy industry,” Rafferty said. “Shapiro has shown a willingness to place his political ambitions over the jobs of hardworking Pennsylvanians by taking positions that would directly put 6,000 construction jobs and over 600 permanent jobs in serious jeopardy. Commissioner Shapiro has repeatedly demonized the entire natural gas industry and claims ‘frackers’ pollute our air and water. By even using the term ‘frackers,’ he is insulting to the hard-working men and women who support their families in an industry that is creating jobs and making our state and country energy independent.

“Commissioner Shapiro is running to be Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement officer while making blanket claims that he believes the entire natural gas industry is polluting our air and water without any evidence in support of his claims. Shapiro doesn’t have the temperament or experience to serve in this important office. He justifiably creates concern within the industry and will cause companies to look at other states to make these types of major investments, costing Pennsylvanians family-sustaining jobs.

“As attorney general, I will prosecute any individual or company that break laws, especially as it relates to protecting our environment. Pennsylvanians don’t want an activist attorney general who is willing to denounce an entire industry simply because they don’t conform to his political agenda.”

Commissioner Josh Shapiro has repeatedly said that the next Attorney General should “get tough on the frackers” and demonizes the entire natural gas industry. Recently, Shapiro double downed on his anti-energy stance by saying that he didn’t believe that the Office of the Attorney General needed to receive a referral from the Department of Environmental Protection before prosecuting energy companies.

HARRISBURG – Republican Attorney General candidate John Rafferty today called on his opponent Democratic Commissioner Josh Shapiro to announce whether or not he supports Philadelphia’s sanctuary city policy. Sanctuary cities are jurisdictions that employ a policy of not arresting an individual simply because they are an illegal immigrant or inquiring about their immigration status during an arrest.

“The sanctuary city policy adopted by Mayor Jim Kenney and the city of Philadelphia puts the lives of innocent people living, working and visiting the city in danger every day,” said Rafferty. “The role of attorney general is to enforce the law and keep Pennsylvanians safe. I cannot imagine how a candidate for attorney general could ever support a policy that ignores a federal law that protects dangerous and violent criminals from federal authorities because they are illegal immigrants.”

At a recent Pennsylvania Press Club appearance, Commissioner Shapiro was asked whether he supports the sanctuary city policy and he refused to directly answer the question.

“I do not support sanctuary cities, ” said Rafferty. “Where does Commissioner Shapiro stand on the issue?”

Rafferty’s plan centers around the creation of a Heroin Strike Force within the Office of Attorney General to provide training for law enforcement personnel and improved coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. He would also expand treatment programs for those addicted to heroin and promote public awareness through a statewide campaign emphasizing the “deadly dangers of heroin abuse.”

“There is no question we have a deadly heroin epidemic in Pennsylvania,” Rafferty said. “Our young people are dying every day. As I travel the state I can categorically tell you the devastation of heroin affects every community — from Erie to Philadelphia, from Green County to Pike County, and everywhere in between.”

Rafferty cited recent reports by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) that show a growing threat from heroin in the United States, particularly in the Northeast.

“The DEA says heroin is available in larger quantities, used by a larger number of people, and is causing an increasing number of overdose deaths,” he said. “Specifically in Pennsylvania, the DEA found that more than half of the nearly 2,500 overdose deaths in 2015 involved heroin. We must get serious; we must have a common-sense plan that saves lives.”

Pledging to “leave no stone unturned” in the fight to stop heroin abuse in our Commonwealth,” Rafferty outline a strategy that includes three interconnected elements:

— A Heroin Strike Force comprised of highly training Bureau of Narcotics Investigation agents, drug prosecutors and intelligence analysts who would work together to target mid-to-upper-level drug dealers. The task force would work closely with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to identify out-of-state sources and coordinate efforts to investigate, prosecute and jail heroin traffickers.

— Enhanced training for police agencies and better coordination between law enforcement and prosecutors at all levels of government for improved intelligence collection, interdiction and prosecution of cases.

— A heavy emphasis on treatment for individuals addicted to heroin, a public education campaign to increase awareness and education programs in schools to teach young people how deadly heroin can be.

“I pledge that, as Attorney General, I will work day and night against this devastating epidemic,” Rafferty said. “My multi-pronged plan to fight the heroin epidemic in Pennsylvania is sorely needed. We must get serious.”

HARRISBURG – The Rafferty for Attorney General campaign is proud to announce that the Western Pennsylvania Operating Engineers are endorsing John Rafferty in the race for the Office of Attorney General.

“Western Pennsylvania Operators and Engineers are proud to endorse John Rafferty for Attorney General,” said Jim Kunz, Business Manager of the Western Pennsylvania Operators and Engineers. “John Rafferty understands that his number one obligation to the people of our Commonwealth is public safety. That is why he has fought for law enforcement officers and has been a champion to ensure there was funding to rebuild our bridges and roads. John Rafferty will be an Attorney General all Pennsylvanians can be proud of and we are excited to support his candidacy.”

Attorney General candidate John Rafferty added, “I am so honored and proud to have the endorsement of the Western Pennsylvania Operators and Engineers. The Operators and Engineers are hard-working men and women who are on the frontlines everyday rebuilding Pennsylvania to ensure our safety. I was proud to work with the Operators and Engineers on a comprehensive transportation-funding package that is helping to ensure the safety of Pennsylvanians travelling on our roads and bridges. As Attorney General, I promise to take politics out of the office and work with all Pennsylvanians to make our state safer, because ensuring the public’s safety is not a partisan issue.”

John Rafferty is the Republican nominee for Attorney General. As a state senator, John represents the 44th District, which includes parts of Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties. John previously served as a Deputy Attorney General where he worked in the Criminal Law Division in the Medicaid Fraud Unit. John’s campaign has been endorsed by a number of influential organizations, including the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association, the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association and Western Pennsylvania Operators and Engineers.

HARRISBURG – The Rafferty for Attorney General campaign is proud to announce that the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association (PSCOA) is endorsing John Rafferty in the race for the Office of Attorney General. Please see the attached letter of endorsement from PSCOA President Jason Bloom.

Click here to read the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association letter of endorsement for John Rafferty for Attorney General.

Attorney General candidate John Rafferty added, “I am so honored and proud to have the endorsement of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association. The PSCOA and their members are hard-working Pennsylvanians who have one of the most difficult jobs in our community. They put their lives on the line every day and patrol the toughest areas of our state: the jails. As Attorney General, I will prosecute those who harm our citizens to the fullest extent of the law. I promise I will take politics out of the office and I will work with all Pennsylvanians to make our state safer. Ensuring the public’s safety is not a partisan issue.”

John Rafferty is the Republican nominee for Attorney General. As a state senator, John represents the 44th District, which includes parts of Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties. John previously served as a Deputy Attorney General where he worked in the Criminal Law Division in the Medicaid Fraud Unit. John’s campaign is endorsed by a number of influential organizations, including the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association, the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation and the Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania.

HARRISBURG – The Rafferty for Attorney General campaign challenged Democratic Attorney General candidate Josh Shapiro to join John Rafferty in agreeing to take politics out of the Office of Attorney General by agreeing to not run for higher office.

“The race for the Office of Attorney General is critically important to the future of the Commonwealth, and I believe it is imperative that we take politics out of the Office,” John Rafferty said. “I have pledged that I will only run for the Office of Attorney General and not seek higher office.

“Today, I challenged my opponent, Josh Shapiro, to join me in pledging to take politics out of the AG’s office by promising not to seek higher office. We cannot afford to allow the Office of Attorney General to be used by candidates who simply see it as a stepping-stone for the Governor’s mansion.

“Our Commonwealth deserves a leader in the Office of Attorney General who will be laser-focused on fixing the mess that has been created by the scandals and political agendas of the past four years. Pennsylvania needs an Attorney General who will put politics aside and work towards ensuring the public’s safety and prioritize making Pennsylvania a safer place for our families and is committed to rooting out corruption and fraud.”

In order to build public support to take politics out of the Office of Attorney General, the Rafferty for Attorney General campaign launched a public petition at www.TakePoliticsOut.com.

John Rafferty is the Republican nominee for Attorney General. As a state senator, John represents the 44th District, which includes parts of Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties. John previously served as a Deputy Attorney General where he worked in the Criminal Law Division in the Medicaid Fraud Unit. John’s campaign has been endorsed by a number of influential organizations, including the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association, Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation and the Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania.

HARRISBURG – The Rafferty for Attorney General campaign is proud to announce that the Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania is endorsing John Rafferty in the race for the Office of Attorney General.

“Western Pennsylvania Laborers are proud to endorse John Rafferty for Attorney General” said Phil Ameris, President of the Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania. “John Rafferty is a man the people of Pennsylvania can trust to keep his word and he will restore integrity back to the Office of Attorney General. As a State Senator, John Rafferty never lost sight that his number one obligation to the people of our Commonwealth is public safety. That is why he has been a champion for law enforcement and fought for critically needed improvements to our roads and bridges. John Rafferty will be a great Attorney General and we are proud to support his candidacy.”

Attorney General candidate John Rafferty added, “I am so honored and proud to have the endorsement of the Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania. The Laborers’ and their members are hard-working women and men who represent the backbone of our Commonwealth. I was proud to work with the Phil Ameris and the Laborers’ on a comprehensive transportation-funding package that put their members back to work to help ensure the safety of Pennsylvanians travelling on our roads and bridges. As Attorney General, I promise to take politics out of the office and work with all Pennsylvanians to make our state safer, because ensuring the public’s safety is not a partisan issue.”

John Rafferty is the Republican nominee for Attorney General. As a state senator, John represents the 44th District, which includes parts of Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties. John previously served as a Deputy Attorney General where he worked in the Criminal Law Division in the Medicaid Fraud Unit. John’s campaign has been endorsed by a number of influential organizations, including the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association and the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation.

Harrisburg – Tom Ridge, the first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania, today announced his support for John Rafferty as Pennsylvania’s next Attorney General.

“I want a nominee who can restore integrity and the public’s confidence in the Attorney General’s office and that’s why John Rafferty is my candidate,” Gov. Ridge said.

“John has both the legal and prosecutorial experience to be our state’s top law enforcement officer,” said Gov. Ridge. “As a senator, John has been a leader in criminal justice matters and earned the respect of the men and women in law enforcement and crime victims. He is ready to lead the Attorney General’s office and return it to the mission of protecting Pennsylvania’s citizens.”

Rafferty said, “I’m honored to have the support of Governor Ridge, who began his distinguished career in public service as an Erie County Assistant District Attorney.”

Rafferty, a former deputy attorney general, is a state senator from Montgomery County. He has also been endorsed by the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, the Pennsylvania State Fraternal Order of Police and the Pennsylvania State Professional Firefighters Association.